Technology startup ‘to connect the poor with their helpers’

Nigeria’s new technology startup, Helpcentral, has launched an all-in-one platform for social impact.

According to Abimbola Ojenike, co-founder of the organisation, Helpcentral will connect charities helping the poor with members of the community who have surplus food and other relief materials.

He said the platform, www.helpcentral.ng, will enable members of the public to give anything they have to the needy and to connect with beneficiaries based on geographical location or choice.

Ojenike said users can also run a social campaign to spread the cause of the poor, volunteer, find credible causes or make recurring monthly donations to their beneficiary of choice.

“We are on a mission to create community connections to help the extreme poor. We have to correct the paradox in which so much is put to waste in Africa while the extreme poor people suffer for lack of the materials put to waste,” he said in a statement.

“Why should a child go hungry while food is left to expire and waste in many Nigerian homes? We are changing that. We are connecting those who have with those who do not have. We can create a caring community and reduce desperation.”

Ojenike said Helpcentral will provide logistics for pickup and delivery of food and other relief items to the needy by working with a nationwide network of verified credible charities that cater to disadvantaged children, senior citizens and people with disabilities.

He called on partners to collaborate in the startup’s mission to leverage technology to bring relief to the poor.